No Data Returned from Choices() function

[Anonymous]

Hi

I'm trying to use "Choices()" to populate a drop-down, and have also tried using a data table with no success.

I'm trying to pull the options/data from a "People" field "User" in a Sharepoint List 'Marketing Job Assignees'

Choices('Marketing Job Assignees'.User)

As I am typing into the function bar, it looks like I will get a result...

 

But then as close my bracket, it all of a Sudden cant find anything...

Not sure what I am missing here?

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous 

I don't think Choices() works with People Picker / Person columns, pretty sure it only works for LookUp and Choice columns. You could try using the Office365 connector to get what you need?

Try this on the Dropdown Items property:

Office365Users.SearchUsers().DisplayName

[Anonymous]

But that will return every user in my organisation right?  I only want it to be people in this other SharePoint list (about 4 people currently, my entire company is ~60,0000 people), and I don't want to have to go in and change hard-coded information every time we add or remove someone. 

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous 

Ok, I get what you are trying to do now, try this

// clear the collect first
Clear(colPickedPeople);

// collect into colPickedPeople a table of names
ForAll(ShowColumns(
    'Marketing Job Assignees',"User"),
    ForAll(User,
    Collect(colPickedPeople, {PersonName: DisplayName})));

// create a Distinct list of picked People
ClearCollect(colPicked, RenameColumns(Distinct(colPickedPeople,PersonName),"Result", "People"))

Note: this won't show a Delegation issue but this code will only work on a data set <2000 records in size. This doesn't relate to your >60,000 employees but rather the SP List size, if that makes sense.

Let me know how you get on.

[v-yutliu-msft]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Actually, Choices function could work for these data type: lookup, choice and person.

Person data type is a special lookup type.

However, lookup field and choice field has its limited value.

Choices for person field are all the accounts in your talent, which may be very large.

So usually, we use Choices(listname.personfieldname) in combo box's Items property.

In your issue, I think you do not want all the accounts in your talent. Do you only want 4 person choices in the drop down list?

Could you tell me where does these 4 person choices come from? this list's existing person value or from other list,ect?

I assume that they are this list's existing person value.

If so,try this to set the drop down's Items:

Distinct('Marketing Job Assignees',User.Email)

Best regards,

[Anonymous]

RE: 

// clear the collect first
Clear(colPickedPeople);

// collect into colPickedPeople a table of names
ForAll(ShowColumns(
    'Marketing Job Assignees',"User"),
    ForAll(User,
    Collect(colPickedPeople, {PersonName: DisplayName})));

// create a Distinct list of picked People
ClearCollect(colPicked, RenameColumns(Distinct(colPickedPeople,PersonName),"Result", "People"))

Sorry, my PowerApps skills are very patchy... not sure where this goes? In the "Items" field of my drop down?

[Anonymous]

---

@v-yutliu-msft wrote:

If so,try this to set the drop down's Items:

Distinct('Marketing Job Assignees',User.Email)

---

This just gives me a list with Email Addresses, not names.

---

@v-yutliu-msft wrote:

Could you tell me where does these 4 person choices come from? this list's existing person value or from other list,ect?

I assume that they are this list's existing person value.

---

As above, my four names are in a Sharepoint List 'Marketing Job Assignees' which has a "People" field called "User".  They are people in my organisation

---

@v-yutliu-msft wrote:

Choices for person field are all the accounts in your talent, which may be very large.

So usually, we use Choices(listname.personfieldname) in combo box's Items property.

---

Yes, I tried 

Choices('Marketing Job Assignees'.User)

But it does not work for me

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous 

I'd recommend you put this code in the OnVisible of your screen. You could also add it to a button (just to see if it works?) or in the App OnStart as well. Th choice is yours.

You then use the collection created - colPicked - as the Items of your Dropdown.

[v-yutliu-msft]

Hi @Anonymous ,

If you just want names instead of emails, you just need to make a little change.

set the drop down's Items:

Distinct('Marketing Job Assignees',User.DisplayName)

Best regards, 

[Anonymous]

---

@v-yutliu-msft wrote:

Hi @Anonymous ,

If you just want names instead of emails, you just need to make a little change.

set the drop down's Items:

Distinct('Marketing Job Assignees',User.DisplayName)

Best regards, 

---

It doesn't save any data to the field.  The field is a "People" field, not a "Text" field